Devotional:

Our world loves a champion. And popular culture bursts with people trying to fill the role. Movie stars who make a public display of giving to charity. Politicians who brag about their work. It's a world of pride. And no matter what way we turn, we seem to find someone with a puffed-out chest.

But the "superstars" aren't the only ones who like to boast. Sometimes we want to capture that kind of attention, too. We come up with a good idea, we receive an award, or we help out with a ...

Our world loves a champion. And popular culture bursts with people trying to fill the role. Movie stars who make a public display of giving to charity. Politicians who brag about their work. It's a world of pride. And no matter what way we turn, we seem to find someone with a puffed-out chest.

But the "superstars" aren't the only ones who like to boast. Sometimes we want to capture that kind of attention, too. We come up with a good idea, we receive an award, or we help out with a good cause, and there's a part of us that wants everyone to know about it. So we brag a little, hoping to be admired.

In stark contrast to this human pride, Isaac Watts calls us to look at the cross and see the real champion: Jesus Christ. With a heart focused on God's sacrifice, Watts' wrote, "my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride" and he prayed, "Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast save in the death of Christ, my God."

Jeremiah shared a similar thought with the Israelites long ago: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord" (Jer. 9:23-24).

In the days ahead, take stock of your own heart. What is it that you boast about? Is it yourself or your God? As you survey the cross in this Lenten season, remember how petty and pointless human pride truly is. And as you sing our hymn, focus your pride on Jesus: He's the true Champion to brag about.

Hymn Story:

Isaac Watts wrote "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" in preparation for a communion service in 1707. Originally, the hymn was named "Crucifixion to the World by the Cross of Christ," following the practice of the day to summarize a hymn's theme in the title. It was first published in 1707 in Watt's collection Hymns and Spiritual Songs.

Watts wrote five stanzas for the original version of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross." However, he put his fourth stanza in brackets, indicating...

Isaac Watts wrote "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" in preparation for a communion service in 1707. Originally, the hymn was named "Crucifixion to the World by the Cross of Christ," following the practice of the day to summarize a hymn's theme in the title. It was first published in 1707 in Watt's collection Hymns and Spiritual Songs.

Watts wrote five stanzas for the original version of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross." However, he put his fourth stanza in brackets, indicating it was the most likely one to be left out, if need be:

"His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o'er His body on the tree:
Then am I dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me."

Other alterations have been made to this hymn through the years. For example, line 2 originally read "Young Prince of Glory," but in the second edition of the hymnal, Watts changed it to "When God, the Mighty Maker, died." It has also been "When Christ, the Lord of Glory, died," "When Christ, the Great Redeemer, died," and "When Christ, the Great Creator, died." In the nineteenth century there were numerous collections with extensive alterations to the hymn.

"When I Survey The Wondrous Cross" is considered one of the finest hymns ever written. It's the first known hymn to be written in the first person, introducing a personal religious experience rather than limiting itself to doctrine.

In Watts' day such hymns were termed "hymns of human composure" and they stirred up great controversy. At the time, congregational singing was predominately ponderous repetitions of the Psalms. But this hymn gave Christians of Watts' day a way to express a deeply personal gratitude to their Savior. The well-loved song continues to stir our hearts today.